Relatively new 55 gal tank (has been up and running for several months) has rarely seen a nitrate level below 12mg/l and is typically between there and 25. Have been doing regular water changes - as much as 10 gal per week, and up to 15 gal per week, with no significant reduction in nitrate level . Ammonia and nitrites are at 0 or close to it .
Here's my environment:
55 gal tank
Emperor Bio-wheel filter (using only the carbon & mesh filter inserts)
Remora Protein Skimmer w/maxi-jet
45 lbs LR
CC substrate (2-3 inches deep)
2 False Percula clowns
2 yellow tail Damsels
Cleaning crew (2 brittle stars, 25 red leg hermits, 25 snails, 4 emerald crabs, 1 sally lightfoot crab, 25 dwarf blue hermits)
(Note that I cannot locate any of the blues. can't say if they're dead or just hiding really well).
No significant algae problem, although I get white "dots" on the glass.
Feeding once per day - rotate between flake and brine shrimp. Stars get fed clams or mussels twice per week, occasional red algae piece for variety.
I do NOT agitate the CC substrate when doing the water change.
What am I missing as far as getting the nitrates to drop?
Thanks for any hints...
Here's my environment:
55 gal tank
Emperor Bio-wheel filter (using only the carbon & mesh filter inserts)
Remora Protein Skimmer w/maxi-jet
45 lbs LR
CC substrate (2-3 inches deep)
2 False Percula clowns
2 yellow tail Damsels
Cleaning crew (2 brittle stars, 25 red leg hermits, 25 snails, 4 emerald crabs, 1 sally lightfoot crab, 25 dwarf blue hermits)
(Note that I cannot locate any of the blues. can't say if they're dead or just hiding really well).
No significant algae problem, although I get white "dots" on the glass.
Feeding once per day - rotate between flake and brine shrimp. Stars get fed clams or mussels twice per week, occasional red algae piece for variety.
I do NOT agitate the CC substrate when doing the water change.
What am I missing as far as getting the nitrates to drop?
Thanks for any hints...